Conroe PD sergeant makes court appearance

Sergeant Mike Tindall will soon be released on a $100,000 bond. He's accused of robbing the same bank where he worked part time as a security guard.

As Tindall faced a judge for the first time since his arrest, his attorney called the government's case against his client weak at best.

"The evidence I see in the affidavit is, at best, circumstantial," said attorney Robert Scardino.

Tindall is accused of robbing the First Bank of Conroe last August wearing glasses, a helmet and gloves.

In the criminal complaint, the FBI said employees recognized his voice and mannerisms and that led to his arrests. Those witness accounts are what Tindall's attorney says aren't very credible.

"There's merely an identification, which is based on eyewitness identification, which is historically the weakest kind of evidence in any criminal case," said Scardino.

But the government's case was also based on suspicious deposits made into Tindall's account, along with evidence that Tindall rented a vehicle matching a getaway car.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's office had little to say about the allegation their case was weak.

"I'm not going to comment on the weight of the evidence," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kebharu Smith. "That's to be determined by a jury of his peers."

On Wednesday, a magistrate judge granted Tindall's release on a $a00,000 bond. As conditions of his release, he'll be confined to his home and will have to wear an ankle bracelet. He'll also have to surrender all weapons and will not be allowed to contact any witnesses, including people who work at the bank he's accused of robbing.

"These are the conditions that were best and suitable in this particular case," said Smith.

Also as part of his release, Tindall must undergo a psychological evaluation, which is something his attorney says he welcomes, given his current state.

"He's extremely upset," said Scardino. "And we're going to get him some help and get him out of jail and try to get him stable because this has obviously been very upsetting to him."

As for his probable cause hearing, that'll be scheduled at a later date.